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Antalya – a brief overview

This beautiful coastal city has flourished in recent years, attracting visitors who previously passed through en route to the Turkish Riviera. Antalya has preserved its historic district, Kaleiçi, whose backstreets are lined with magnificent Ottoman-era mansions and remains dating back to the Emperor Hadrian. Its Roman harbour has been modernised over the years, with a well-balanced mix of the old and new.

The site is now another popular hub, home to a yacht marina and stylish shops. With several excellent museums, great eating options and a happening nightlife scene, Antalya is one of the most popular destinations along Turkey’s western Mediterranean coast.

Aquapark

Cool off in one of the largest waterparks on the Turkish Riviera, with a veritable flood of activities, including a wave pool, flumes, frothing rivers and a lagoon. Shuttle buses run to and from the city and nearby resorts.

Hadriyanus Kapısı

Hesapsi Sokak, Atatürk Caddesi 07100 Antalya Turkey Show on map

Hadrian’s Gate is one of the most important monuments in the historic district; the three columned arches were built to mark the emperor’s triumphal visit in AD130.

Yat Limanı

Kaleiçi Marina 07500 Antalya Turkey Show on map

The Roman-era harbour has been redeveloped as a yacht marina, but still retains some of its original fortifications and is a delightful site for an evening stroll.

Kesik Minare

Hesapçı Sokak Antalya Turkey Show on map

Lopped off part way up, the ‘Broken Minaret’ has suffered from damage, destruction and several changes of use throughout its nearly 2,000-year history. The remaining trunk still stands as one of the most distinctive buildings in the historic district.

Flight and accommodation

Country Information

Country overview

For sheer diversity, it’s hard to beat Turkey. The country seems to exist in multitudes – of people, of natural landscapes, of cultures. It is a land of vast open spaces, massive mountain ranges, fertile valleys and rugged coastline, fast-growing cities and sleepy villages, bustling neon-lit seaside resorts and unfrequented beaches.

Countless waves of invasions, rebellions and ongoing immigration have created a country that may surprise visitors with the breadth and depth of the cultural melting-pot, not just in the major cities but across the country, with Kurds, Greeks, Arabs and many more groups to be found.

Geography

Turkey borders the Black Sea and Georgia and Armenia to the northeast, Iran to the east, Iraq to the southeast, Syria and the Mediterranean to the south, the Aegean Sea to the west and Greece and Bulgaria to the northwest. Asia Minor (or Anatolia) is the name given to the peninsula that forms a bridge between Europe and Asia. It accounts for 97% of the country’s area and forms a long, wide peninsula 1,650km (1,025 miles) from east to west and 650km (400 miles) from north to south. The biggest city is Ankara, which is situated in the central plains of Anatolia.

The other 3% of the country is Thrace, the tiny land mass which is the European portion of Turkey bordering Bulgaria and Greece and separated from Anatolia by the Bosphorus, a strait linking the Black Sea and Aegean Sea. Despite its small size 10% of the population lives here, with most of these in Istanbul.

Two east-west mountain ranges, the Black Sea Mountains in the north and the Taurus in the south, enclose the central Anatolian plateau, but converge in a vast mountainous region in the far east of the country. It is here that the ancient Tigris and Euphrates rivers rise.

General knowledge

Key Facts

Area: 783562 sq km

Population: 80694485

Polulation density: 103 per sq km

Capital: Ankara

Government: Republic since 1923

Language

Turkish is the official language. Kurdish is also spoken by a minority in the southeast. French, German and English are widely spoken in major cities and tourist areas.

Currency

New Turkish Lira (TRY; symbol YTL) = 100 New Kurus (Ykr). Notes are in denominations of YTL200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of YTL1 and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 New Kurus.

Flight and accommodation

Calendar of events

Antalya International Choir Festival

Choirs from across the globe are invited to compete in this prestigious singing competition, and the result is five days of first-class concerts. A highlight is the mixed-choir performance of a famous choral work accompanied by the Antalya State Symphony Orchestra.

International Antalya Children’s Festival

Children’s groups from around the world come to Antalya to participate in delightful performances, beginning with a huge parade. Folk dances, choral music, marching bands, circus acts, ballet shows and gymnastic displays are all part of the entertainment, held around Turkey’s Children’s Day.

International Antalya Theatre Festival

Theatre companies from Turkey and abroad stage a thrilling programme of contemporary plays in traditional venues as well as at the spectacular open-air Aspendos and Side ancient amphitheatres. Visitors can immerse themselves in theatre at special workshops or head outdoors for street performances.

Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival

Turkish and international opera and ballet companies, including Antalya’s own State Opera and Ballet, stage magnificent productions in the spectacular setting of the ancient Aspendos Theatre. Watching a world-class performance in this 2,000-year-old open-air amphitheatre is both mesmerising and unforgettable.

Conservatory Art Days

Early June 2016

Venue: Municipal Cultural Hall

Early June sees a week of evening arts performances hosted by the city council. Festival audiences have the choice of a terrific range of concerts and theatrical productions, from local children’s choirs to folk singing to classic and contemporary plays.

Golden Pomegranate Festival

Last week in June 2016

Venue: Various venues in Kemer, 45km south of Antalya

Sports activities, concerts starring famous Turkish singers, a grand parade and a beauty contest are among the week-long programme of activities during this lively festival in the coastal resort town of Kemer. The celebration culminates in a massive fireworks display.

International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival

For over 50 years, stars of the big screen have graced the red carpet at this glamorous cinematic extravaganza. Audiences are treated to a cracking selection of films, with juries selecting winners in international, national, documentary and short film categories.

Red Bull Sea to Sky Enduro Event

Hardcore Extreme Enduro riders battle it out on motorbikes over three days across three types of terrain: beach, forest and mountains. Pros and amateurs join the competition, which rises from sea level to 2,365m, tackling highly technical trails over rocks, rivers, roots and sand.

Antalya Piano Festival

World-renowned pianists take to the stage for a riveting programme of classical and contemporary compositions and premiere performances. Amateurs can join in too and tickle the ivories on one of the many pianos set up in public places, including shopping centres, tram stations and even the airport.

All information subject to change. Please check the dates on the relevant event organizer’s website.

7 days forecast

Climate & best time to visit Turkey

Turkey is a huge country, and its climate varies widely from region to region as well as seasonally. For sightseeing holidays to Istanbul and the most important ancient and medieval sights, and for active walking holidays, the best times to visit are spring (April-May) and autumn (October-early November) when days are generally warm and sunny but not uncomfortably hot. Rainy spells and cloudy days are possible, however, in spring and autumn, so the best months for a sun-and-sea holiday on the Aegean or Mediterranean coast are June to end September. Resort areas are most crowded from June until the end of August.

In developing ski areas such as Uludag near Bursa and Palandoken near Erzurum, the best time to visit is between December and April. Temperatures in and around Istanbul can vary from well below freezing in midwinter to above 40°C (104°F) in summer. The Aegean and Mediterranean coasts experience the hottest summers, with highs of 45°C (113°F), but midwinter temperatures can be as low as -5°C (23°F). Mountainous Eastern Turkey has the most extreme climate of all, with winter temperatures as low as -43°C (-45F) and highs up to 38C (100F). The climate of the central Anatolia is also extreme with summer highs of 40°C (104°F)and winter lows of -25°C (-13°F). The Turkish State Meteorological Office (www.mgm.gov.tr) provides a day to day, region by region online weather forecast.

Flight and accommodation

Telephone & Internet

Telephone/Mobile phones

The cheapest way to make calls is from PTT telephone booths, which are found in all areas. These operate using phone cards, which can be bought from kiosks, or by using major credit cards.

Mobile Phone

Mobile phone coverage is generally good, but can be patchy in some rural areas in eastern Turkey. As Turkey is outside the EU, roaming charges are very much more expensive than for mobile phone use in the UK and the rest of the EU.

Internet

There are internet cafés throughout Turkey, even in small towns and rural villages. Almost all hotels (including even small guesthouses and budget hostels) offer free Wi-Fi internet access, as do many restaurants, bars and cafés.

Flight and accommodation

Shopping in Antalya

Key Areas

The Old Town, Kaleiçi, has a plethora of shops along its narrow streets, selling everything from jewellery to electronic goods. The old harbour, Ataturk Boulevard and Konyaaltı Beach are other key areas, with souvenir shops, department stores and modern malls.

Markets

Antalya has several local fruit and vegetable markets. The best traditional bazaar is İki Kapılar Hanı, in old Kaleiçi; mainly aimed at tourists nowadays, it’s still brimming with atmosphere and worth browsing the crowded archways. It’s open daily until late.

Shopping Centres

Migros, just off Konyaaltı Beach, is one of the biggest malls in Turkey, with more than 100 department stores, restaurants and a multiplex cinema. Another mall worth checking out is Deepo (Serek Caddessi 309), near the airport, which has huge range of Turkish and famous international brands, as well as cinemas, cafés, and even a prayer room and ice rink.

Flight and accommodation

Traveller etiquette

Social conventions

Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting a stranger; kissing on the cheek is reserved for meeting friends and family. Hospitality is very important and visitors should respect Islamic customs. Informal wear is acceptable, but beachwear should be confined to the beach or poolside. Smoking is widely acceptable but prohibited in cinemas, theatres, buses, coaches and dolmuş (collective taxis).

There is no law against women wearing headscarves in public but those in public roles and campus students are banned from wearing them. However, if visiting a mosque, women are advised to take scarves to cover their hair and to wear long-sleeved tops. Both men and women should have legs covered from the knees upwards.

Flight and accommodation

Health

Main emergency number: 112

Food & Drink

Mains water is chlorinated in towns and cities, but it is advisable to drink the widely available bottled mineral water. If a water source bears the words içilmez, it is not potable; sources labelled içilir or içme suyu are safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised. Eat only well-cooked meat and fish. When it comes to street food, common sense is advised; eat food that is freshly cooked and ideally, has been prepared in front of you. During the summer Turkey can experience temperatures up to 40°C so carry a bottle of water to avoid dehydration.

Other Risks

Vaccinations against tuberculosis and hepatitis B are sometimes recommended. It is recommended that travellers visiting rural areas, get a rabies vaccination as this may be found in dogs, cats and other animals throughout the countryside. Turkey has very low risk of malaria, with the risk increasing towards the Syrian border in the south east of the country, but keen trekkers may want to stock up on supplies of insect-repellent.

Flight and accommodation

Visa & Immigration

IATA Travel Centre

The IATA Travel Centre delivers accurate passport, visa and health requirement information at a glance. It is a trusted, centralized source for the latest international travel requirements. The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate source available because it is based on a comprehensive database used by virtually every airline, and information is gathered from official sources worldwide, such as immigration and police authorities.